Generators for our Tanks #1 equiptment?

[beth]

We invest so much money into so much equiptment and upgrades to equiptment, but I don't think I've ever seen a post on keeping a generator backup.
Coming from Fla [hurricane alley] and having experienced Hurricane Georges, when the electricity was out in my house for nearly a week in the middle of summer [90deg day temp], I'd like to know if any hobbysts use generators or have experience with them. And, if so, what kind, what size, etc.
[We have backups for our Puters, but not our tanks???]

 

[beth]

Trey, are you psychic????....I WAS trying to get out of the "inch per gal" ......!
So what generator do you use, honda? Does it make enough noise to wake the dead? How girlie-friendly is it??? [now watch the BB feminist clobber me ]
If you find the other equiptment info, please let me know......hurricane season approaches as we speak, and as fellow Floridian, you know what that means

 

[mr . salty]

If you are in the market for a generator,here are a few guidlines to look for.If you are planning on running the whole house with it,get nothing smaller than a 5,000watt with at least an eight horsepower motor.This 5000watt unit should run around 500 dollars.Then you will need me,or a good electrition to wire it into the breaker box so when needed all you do is start it up and flip a switch.The 5000 will be powerfull enough to run the fridge,tank,TV,and a few lights.Oh,and the AC of corse.I have allways wanted one,but up here we seldome loose power.I think the last long one was almost eight years ago.We were down for four days. Not counting the time my house caught fire.That was an electrical problem.But really,I know how to do wiring.REALLY,I DO...
[ April 28, 2001: Message edited by: MR . SALTY ]

 

[mr . salty]

I would stay away from HONDA.They are WAAAAY overpriced. And yes they are a bit noisey.But not too bad. I think having power when all your neighbors are burning candels and reading magazines is worth a little noise.

 

[mr . salty]

By wiring it into a switch in the breaker,Then you turn OFF the main power before the box.you eliminate the power going out of the house.Around here the gas company offers one that is industrial,natural gas burning.It is hooked up so it comes on automatically when the power is interupted.Then turns off when the main power comes back on. They just add about a million dollars to your gas bill to pay for it.

 

[beth]

Steve, I didn't know you were an electrician! You really are a very handy fellow! Pretty soon, you will have to make that trip down here to get me up and running with canopy, lighting, generator and all that mind-boggling eco-systems you have with your system But, I have a ??, perhaps a stupid one ...why would you hook up to the house electricity when the purpose of using the generator is to supply power in the absense of powerline electricity. Does that mean that the generator supplies the power straight thru the wiring in the house???
My problem with generator is storing it. KW homes are tiny and have no storage space. I've heard of like small portable generators used on boats to keep bait alive, etc. It would be great to have the AC going after a storm related mass poweroutage. I do have gas powering my stove [propane]. Maybe a hookup there? This is one of the reasons [besides lack of $$$] that I haven't invested in LR, reef setup...one long power outage, and thousands of bucks, not to mention precious life, is gone.
Thanks, Trey, for researching further...I appreciate it.

[ April 28, 2001: Message edited by: Beth ]

 

[mr . salty]

BETHThat is exactly why I would wire it directly into the breaker box. Then your whole house would have power.That's the way we do it up here in michigan. Extension cords are for amatures.The hookup is really not that hard. As for comming down,I actually have been thinking about a trip later this year,and the KEYS are high on my list.

 

[beth]

Well, if you're planning a trip, I'd sure be glad to see you...but, be warned, vacationing in the Keys is not cheap, especially during certain times of the yr. IE: Unless you've got lots of $$$ Oct thru Dec is VERY expensive.
Now there is John Penetecamp Nat Park in Key Largo that may interest you...they have some sort of Underwater hotel there where you stay [literally] at the reef. And it is the best reef location. No night life in Key Largo though. Fantacy Fest is in Oct, if you're in to that...but, as I said, you'll be paying for it if you come that time of yr.

 

[slk3599]

I purchased a Generac 4000 watt generator at Farm and Fleet a couple of months ago. Price: 679.00
Runs three tanks - 75g FOWLR and 72 reef, 29 FOWLR, the fridge, a lamp, the TV and the computer.
Our power went out at 9:30 am and by 2:00 the fish were looking for oxygen. Had to bite the bullet and get one. Glad I did because the power didn't come back on to 11 that night. I'm sure I would have had some deaths without it. Noisier than heck, but I put it in the garage and it isn't so bad to take.
In my opinion the battery back ups wouldn't make the grade in an extended outage.
Susan

 

[beth]

I guess if you use extention cords, you can put the generator anywhere and just run a long extension cord to the house...or do you have to run many long cords, for each plug?

 

[slk3599]

Run an extension cord into the house and then attach it to one of those cords with multiple plug ins.